Hinge structure



March 18, 1969 l l I I I I I I I V BE 7 A I I I T; I 29 1 "23 INVENTOR PHILIP FAROUCHE fiIIIIIIII H Ill-'lllll FIG.3

I M I FIG.|

HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofice 3,432,882 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hinge structure for a cabinet, the structure comprising a rigid positioning tab and a deflectable rib having a transversely extending pivot pin thereon, the tab and rib extending downwardly from a cover portion and being received by a chamber provided in the base portion with the pivot pin received by a slot in the chamber.

The present invention relates to hinge structures and more specifically to an improved hinge structure for use with plastic cabinets of the type used for phonographs etc.

It is desirable that the hinges employed in devices such as phonographs be both easily assembled and disassembled in simplified fashion. Further, since such devices are subject to hard usage, particularly when used by children, it is desirable that the hinge structure not be subject to breakage.

The prior art has not completely satisfied these desiderata. In general, the prior art structures have been relatively expensive and complicated. More specifically, discrete hinge elements have been employed, discrete fasteners being utilized to afiix the hinge elements to the associated cabinet portions.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge structure.

A further object is to provide an improved hinge structure for use with molded plastic cabinets.

Yet another object is to provide an improved hinge structure which is easily assembled and disassembled.

Still another object is to provide an improved hinge structure which is not subject to breakage.

A further object is to provide an improved hinge structure that is less complex and expensive than prior art structures.

These and other objects are achieved in one embodiment of the invention through the use of a hinge structure comprising a deflectable rib extending downwardly from the cover portion of a cabinet and having an outwardly extending pivot pin positioned near the end thereof. The deflectable rib is received by a suitable chamber in the base portion of the cabinet, the chamber being provided with a slot adapted to receive the pivot pin. The deflectable rib is inserted downwardly in the chamber, the pivot pin engaging the side wall of the chamber so that the rib is deflected from its normal position. When the pivot pin reaches the aforementioned slot, the rib returns to the undeflected position, the pivot pin entering the slot to provide the desired pivotal action. A rigid, downwardly extending positioning tab is also received by the chamber to restrain lateral motion of the cover portion relative to base. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the pivot pin is automatically disengaged from the slot if the top is rotated to such a position that damage to the hinge structure might result.

The novel and distinctive features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of a disassembled plastic cabinet employing the hinge structure of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away side view of the hinge structure shown in FIGURE 1 with the hinge structure in a partially assembled position,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the hinge structure in the completely assembled position, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown generally at 1 and 3, the cover and base portions respectively of a molded plastic cabinet of the type employed for phonographs etc.

The cover 1 comprises a rear wall portion 5, side wall portions 7 and 9, and a topwall portion 11.

A pair of downwardly extending deflectable ribs 13 are provided as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3, each rib being integrally molded with the rear wall 5 and the top wall 11. Each deflectable rib 13 is spaced from the rear wall 5 for a portion of its length as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3 so that the rib is easily deflectable in a horiozntal direction as shown in FIGURE 2. An outwardly extending pivot pin 15 is provided on each deflectable rib 13 as shown, a pair of rigid, downwardly extending positioning tabs 17 also being provided.

The base 3 comprises a rear wall portion 19, side wall portions 21 and 23, and a top wall portion 25. The base is provided with a pair of identical chambers, each chamber being adapted to receive associated ones of the deflectable ribs 13 and the positioning tabs 17.

As depicted, each chamber comprises a front wall portion 27, side wall portions 29 and 31, and a bottom wall portion 33. The chamber is molded integrally with the base, the side wall 29 being tapered as shown to facilitate entry of the resilient rib 13 therein.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the side wall 29 and bottom wall 33 of each chamber is provided with a slot 35 adapted to receive the pivot pin 15.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the cover is assembled to the base by the simple action of inserting the deflectable ribs 13 downwardly into the associated chambers. In this position, the pivot pin 15 engages the side wall 29 of the chamber to deflect the rib 13 as shown.

When the deflectable rib 13 is completely inserted in the chamber as shown in FIGURE 4, the pivot pin 15 enters the slot 35, the cover 1 thus being pivotally connected to the base as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 5.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the cover 1 is easily removed from the base by rotating the cover approximately from its closed position. At this point, the pivot pin 15 will ride up on the side of the slot 35 to thereby deflect the rib 13 and remove the pivot pin 15 from the slot. Thus, the hinge is easily disengaged in the desired fashion, this feature also insuring that the hinge is not damaged if the cover is forced backwards.

Since the ribs 13 are deflectable, the rigid positioning tabs 17 are provided to restrain lateral motion of the cover relative to the base, the rigid positioning tabs 17 being received by the respective chambers for this purpose. As shown in FIGURE 5 in dotted lines, the tab 17 pivots into the chamber during opening of the lid and does not interfere with the operation of the hinge in any manner.

Although the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

3 What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hinge structure for pivotally connecting first and second portions of a cabinet, said structure comprising:

(a) a defiectable rib extending from said first cabinet portion and having a transversely extending pivot pin near the end thereof,

(b) said second cabinet portion being provided with a chamber receiving said defiectable rib,

(c) said chamber being provided with a slot receiving said pivot pin only upon complete insertion of said defiectable rib in said chamber,

(d) said defiectable rib being initially deflected upon partial insertion of said rib in said chamber but returning to an undefiected position when said pivot pin is received by the slot in said chamber to thereby pivotally retain said defiectable rib in said chamber, and

(e) a rigid positioning tab extending downwardly from said first cabinet portion, said positioning tab being received by said chamber to restrain translational motion of said first cabinet portion relative to said second cabinet portion.

2. A hinge structure for pivotally connecting first and second portions of a cabinet, said structure comprising:

(a) a defiectable rib extending from said first cabinet portion and having a transversely extending pivot pin near the end thereof,

(b) said second cabinet portion being provided with a chamber receiving said defiectable rib,

(c) said chamber being provided with a slot receiving said pivot pin only upon complete insertion of said defiectable rib in said chamber,

((1) said defiectable rib being initially deflected upon partial insertion of said rib in said chamber but returning to an undefiected position when said pivot pin is received by the slot in said chamber to thereby pivotally retain said defiectable rib in said chamher, and

(e) the extremity of said pivot pin being formed so that said pivot pin cooperates with the side of the slot in said chamber to deflect said defiectable rib to remove said pivot pin from the slot when said first cabinet portion is pivoted to a position relative to said second cabinet portion whereby damage to said hinge structure might result.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,301,461 4/1919 Ledward 16-135 2,733,830 2/1956 Ruskin 16-128 2,765,949 10/1956 Hillman l6--128 2,960,253 11/1960 Kiba 220-31 3,087,192 4/1963 Hertzke l6l74 3,212,304 10/1965 Feinberg 707l BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

J. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner. 

